Take-up device for knitting-machines.



A. w. BECHTEL. TAKE-UP DEVICE FOR KN1TT|NG MACHINES.

APPLlCATION FILED JAN.30, 1917.

1,259 Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

LU vwauto'a Ari/i211" 14! 5541 254 if s ngy ARTHUR WELLINGTON BECHTEL,0F READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

TAKE-U]? DEVICE FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

Application filed January 30, 1917.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that. i. ARTHUR W. BECHTEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Take-up De vicesfor Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improved take-up mechanism for circular knittingmachines.

In these machines the fabric is ordinarily drawn down, as it is knitted,bya weight or take-up rolls arranged to exert a suitable pull upon it.The main object of my invention is to provide a conveniently appliedattachment comprising take-up rolls arranged close to the knitting pointand within the needle cylinder, and satisfactory operating mechanism forsaid rolls. I also provide supplementary take-up rolls in connectionwith the operating mechanism, and other features fully described inconnection with the accompanying drawings and clearly defined in thesubjoined claims,

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing main parts of a known form ofcircular knitting machine with my attachment applied thereto inpreferred manner.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken at right angles to that shown inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the attachment apart from the machinetaken on the line of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 being a partial side elevation ofthe same showing the top portion of said guide.

Figs. 5 and (3 are detailed views of specific means shown for operatingthe drive mechanism.

In the type of machine shown the needle cylinder 10 is rotated by gear11, the needles being operated by relatively fixed cams not shown; myimproved attachment being in this case rotated with the needle cylinder,and the take-up rolls thereof being driven, as indicated, by engagementof the rolldriving shafts 12, of the attachment with a fixed drive ring13 secured to the depending frame sleeve 14 of the machine. It will bereadily understood that in applying my attachment to a non-rotary needlecylinder type of machine, the shaft-driving means 13 would be rotatedinstead of the attachment without material change in construction.

As shown, my take-up mechanism comprises a take-up frame made up of twosimilar parts 15, 15, rigidly connected by top Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

Serial No. 145,370.

cross-bars 16, 16, and bottom cross-bars 17, 17, and having mountedbetween them main take-up rolls 19, 19 at the top, and roll-drive shafts12, 12 at the bottom. This take-up frame is fixed to the needle cylinder10, as indicated, by means of an intermediately arranged attaching ring21, to which the take up frame parts are secured by screws 22, whilesaid ring is secured to the cylinder by screws 23; the take-up frameextending upward into the needle cylinder so as to locate the uppertake-up rolls 19 adjacent the knitting point of the machine, while therolldrive shafts 12 are located below said cylinder.

The take-up rolls 19, as shown, have their shafts 25, 25 engaging inbearing slots 26, 26 in the respective frame parts 15, 15 and are drawntogether by tension springs 27 so as to adjustably engage the passingfabric within an inch or two of the knitting point. These rolls arebelt-driven. as indicated, from the lower drive-roll shafts 12; eachroll 19 having a belt-groove 3O midway of its length, and thefixedly-spaced shafts 12 being provided with similarly grooved rolls 1919 adapted to serve as supplemental take-up rolls as well as to drivethe main take-up rolls, which is efiected by belts 31 as shown.

A toothed engagement is preferably employed between the fixed drive ring13 and the shafts 12; each of the latter being shown provided with abevel pinion 35, and also with a pawl-and-ratchet device (Fig. 5) so asto prevent reverse operation of the takeup rolls during reciprocatingknitting. A yielding but sufficient pull is constantly exerted upon thefabric by the upper takeup rolls, easy slippage of the belts, or rolls,or both, being provided for, while undue slackness of the belts may beavoided by idler contacts 36 as indicated. The knitted fabric isproperly guided to and between the take-up rolls, by means of a guard40, extending downward between the frame parts 15, and the drive bolts31 and having a funnel-shaped top 41 bearing upon the frame cross-rods16. The slippage referred to may obviously be reduced, as for instanceby omitting any desired number of teeth in the drive ring 13 so as tocorrespondingly reduce the rotation of the take-up rolls; and the detailconstruction shown may be otherwise modified without departing fromtheinvention.

hat I claim is p 1. In combination with a circular knitting machine; atake-up frame secured to the needle cylinder and having its upperportion extending into the latter and provided with take-up rollslocated adjacent the top of the cylinder and within the needle circle,and its lo ver portion provided with a drive mechanism for said take-uprolls located below said cylinder; and means for operating said drivemechanism.

2. In combination with a circular knitting machine; a take-up attachmentcomprising two parallel vertical frame parts rigidly secured within theneedle cylinder and depending below the same, a take-up drive shaftrotatably mounted in said frame parts and provided with take-up rollsbetween the latter and a drive wheel and pawl andratchet device exteriorthereto, and means engaging said drive wheel to rotate the same duringthe knitting operation.

In combination with a circular knitting machine; a take-up frame securedto the needle cylinder and having its upper portion extending into thelatter and provided with take-up rolls located adjacent the top of thecylinder and within the needle circle, and its lower portion providedwith a drive assa-7s 4. In combination with a circular knitting machine;a take-up frame secured to the needle cylinder and having its upperportion extending into'the latter and provided with take-up rollslocated adjacent the knitting point, and its lower portion provided witha drive mechanism for said take-up rolls located below said cylinder;said take-up rolls being yieldin -1y pressed together and operated by adrive belt connection to said drive mechanism.

5. In combination with a circular knitting machine; a take-up framesecured to the needle cylinder and having its upper portion extendinginto the latter and provided with take-up rolls located adjacent theknitting point, and its lower portion provided with a drive mechanismfor said take-up rolls located below said cylinder; means operating saiddrive mechanism; and a fabric guard extending between said drivemechanism and take-up rolls and above the latter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ARTHUR WELLINGTON BECHTEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

